Compare towns
Salem vs Windham vs Chaplin vs Colchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Chaplin has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Colchester has the most people working from home (18.4%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Salem | Windham | Chaplin | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,282 |
23,961Highest |
2,070Lowest |
15,648 |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
43.5±3.8 6% above CT |
| Chaplin and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.7%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.3%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
49.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$122,390±$14k 28% above CT |
| Salem and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$366,800±$16k about the CT average |
| Salem and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,474±$153Highest about the CT average |
| Colchester and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668Highest about the CT average |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,212 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±10.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1984 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Colchester and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #11 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | — | #64 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Parish Hill High School | Bacon Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
7.5Lowest |
9.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.